North Carolina Health Insurance

North Carolina Affordable Health Insurance

If you are an individual looking for health insurance in North Carolina, or sourcing other options, as insurance costs continue to rise, Health Plan One can help. Get started by inserting your zip code above to receive your free online health insurance quote.

Increasing Insurance Costs:

With the increasing cost of providing health insurance for you and your family, the prospect of finding affordable health insurance is both daunting and confusing. Health insurance premiums have risen 85.7% in North Carolina in the past 6 years, according toFamilies USA. In fact, about 1,272,850 NC adults do not have insurance at all, according to Kaiser Family State Facts.

But family health insurance is essential and luckily, there is no need to feel you are alone when selecting a plan. If you reside inNorth Carolina and need to find a better family health insurance plan or obtain health insurance, Health Plan One can help you review all possible insurance solutions. Fill in your zip code above to get an instant online insurance quote for your family health insurance plan.

High Risk Pool

In North Carolina, medical underwriting is allowed without restriction. A preexisting condition is a medical condition for which medical advice or treatment was recommended or given prior to coverage under this plan. There is a 12 month look back and exclusionary period for preexisting conditions for those without prior health coverage.

Inclusive Health, also known as the North Carolina Health Insurance Risk Pool (NCHIRP), provides affordable, individual health insurance coverage for North Carolinians who do not have access to an employer health plan and face higher premiums due to a pre-existing medical condition. It will also offer coverage to individuals who are federally defined HIPAA eligibles or qualify due to loss of employment due to the effects of international trade under the Health Coverage Tax Credit.

The North Carolina General Assembly created the North Carolina Health Insurance Risk Pool in 2007. It serves as North Carolina's alternative mechanism for those who've exhausted their COBRA continuation coverage. Individuals with 18 months of prior continuous coverage may qualify for coverage under Inclusive Health and are not subject to Inclusive Health's pre-existing condition waiting period.

Just like most traditional employer-sponsored health plans, Inclusive Health covers a broad range of services, including preventive care, urgent care, outpatient services, a prescription drug benefit and other common health care services.

Other Options:
North Carolina offers the North Carolina Health Choice program to children whose family income is up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. Children must be under 18 years old, residents of North Carolina and U.S. citizens or legal residents, and uninsured including being eligible for Medicaid. Please visit the North Carolina Health Choice website for more detailed information at http://www.dhhs.state.nc.us/dma/cpcont.htm#faq.

There is also a program for low-income pregnant women. This program offers assistance to pregnant women in the form of receiving medical care, support services such as transportation, housing, job training, and day care, and childbirth and parenting classes, nutrition counseling, psychosocial counseling, and home visits for high-risk pregnancies. Please visit the North Carolina Baby Love program website for more detailed information at http://www.dhhs.state.nc.us/dma/babylove.html.

In North Carolina, medical underwriting is allowed with plus or minus 20% of the indexed rate based on the health status of the group. There is a 6 month look back and 12 month exclusionary period limit for preexisting conditions for those without prior healthcare.

North Carolina COBRA Individual Health Coverage

North Carolina offers COBRA, the Consolidate Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985. Many companies with 20 or more employees that offer health insurance are required to offer employees and their dependents continuation coverage for benefits that were lost due, for example, to job loss, reduction in hours worked, death or divorce.

Medicaid and Medicare in North Carolina

Medicaid is a state/federal program that pays for medical and long-term care services for low-income pregnant women, children, certain people on Medicare, disabled individuals and nursing home residents. These individuals must meet certain income and other requirements.

Income requirements

Children
Children (ages 1-5)-133% of the Federal Poverty Level
Children (Ages 6-19)-100% of the Federal Poverty Level